Governors should have an international deputy for provincial diplomacy

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran said: “It would be highly appropriate and effective if governors have an international deputy for provincial diplomacy. It would be beneficial if the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the provinces is appointed at the level of the governor’s diplomatic deputy.”

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated during the opening ceremony of the second Provincial Diplomacy Conference in Mashhad: Neighboring countries are our breathing space under sanctions, and we must establish special relations with them under these circumstances. Iran’s trade volume with each of its neighboring countries exceeds its total trade with Europe, highlighting the importance of commercial cooperation with neighbors.

I see extensive potential in provincial diplomacy that can bring blessings to the entire country. The Foreign Ministry’s priority in the region is Iran’s immediate neighbors, followed by more distant neighboring countries around Iran.

Many bilateral issues can be addressed and resolved in border areas within provinces. Borders that facilitate the passage of goods and passengers do not see terrorists and smugglers. As the saying goes, if local officials in border provinces reach border agreements, borders can become borders of peace.

Following the Provincial Diplomacy Conference in Shiraz, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, emphasized the need to pursue provincial diplomacy, and the President also supports provincial diplomacy. However, provincial diplomacy does not mean delegating foreign policy to provinces, but rather delegating the implementation of foreign policies to provinces.

In 2001, when I was ambassador to Finland, one common illness in Finland and other countries in that region was depression. At a tourism conference organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Finland, we served saffron syrup and advertised it as: ‘Saffron Syrup, Anti-Depression.’ To our surprise, we faced long queues of Finns wanting to try the syrup.

Introducing Iran’s capabilities to the world must be on our agenda. Among these, provinces should promote their specific manufactured goods and prepare media and economic appendices for them in target countries.

It would be highly appropriate and effective if governors have an international deputy for provincial diplomacy. It would be beneficial if the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the provinces is appointed at the level of the governor’s diplomatic deputy.

Source: IRNA News Agency. News Code: 85975107